4,361 posts
|
Post by shady23 on Sept 12, 2016 19:45:33 GMT
It seems more and more these days that theatre folk are tweeting more about what goes on around the stage door than about the show they are performing in. Answering constant questions as to whether they're coming to the stage door or not, warning people that they are not going to be there on a given day and then coping with fan breakdowns when they don't go out of stage door.
If you go to a music concert you don't expect to meet the performer outside the venue so why has it suddenly become so different in the theatre? We seem to have a culture of entitlement now where people think their ticket includes a meet and greet and, no matter how marvelous the show they watch, the main point of their visit is getting that elusive selfie and autograph after (or even before) the show.
How have we got to a point that no matter how amazing a performance their favourite has done it all seems to be wiped out straight away if they don't spend an extra hour chatting and posing outside their work at the end of their shift?
|
|
448 posts
|
Post by ShoesForRent on Sept 12, 2016 20:15:36 GMT
What actors are tweeting? Because from what I've seen it's literally only Carrie Fletcher CONSTANTLY going on about it and and causing sh*tstorms on Twitter (literally 3 seperate time this week alone) and other actors jump in her defense (Chitty actors/ Nadim Naaman etc) but it's always in reply (direct or not) to something she initiated.
If her fans are that crazy- just stop stage dooring. She claims it's because she's a Youtuber so she has it worse than everyone else and that no one suffers from it as much- that's the reason she seems to talk about it more than any other performer. Are you meaning to tell me that when Dan Radcliff/ Tom Hiddelston/ Benedict Cumberbatch/ Sheridan Smith/ David Tennant/ Cathrine Tate, etc etc etc (litteraly huundreds of other well known performers)even Kerry Ellis/ Rachel Tucker and those Wicked bunch- don't have crazy stage door experiences? that people dont tweet them they are dissapointed when they don't exit through? I've never seen ONE of those SHAME the (truthfully- rude- but what can you do) audience member for it and go on tangent after tangent after tangent.
If her fans are THAT crazy- maybe something in her manner/ videos/ personality encourages that kind of behaviour subliminally. But girl really needs to give it a break- there are bound to be downsides to your job and you have to have some kind of grace about it I think...
I could be wrong, maybe there are others who make public their concerns with it- but I do follow a bunch (not her suprisingly- but actors keep re-tweeting her "gospel") and have only seen it in relation to her.
(And no of course I am not even implying she has to go through stage door, or that tweeting dissapointment at actors not doing so in any way a respectable thing- but it's not that big a tragedy recieving those tweets- and obviously her tangents aren't working)
|
|
448 posts
|
Post by ShoesForRent on Sept 12, 2016 20:26:33 GMT
Also I know there such a thing as an "artist's exit" at concerts, even after talk shows and tv appearences. There are "fan spaces" on sets for tv shows and movies where fans can watch the filming and the actors usually do come at breaks and sign- and my god if you look up some of those videos on Youtube- the amount of shaming and cussing and cursing the performer when it doesn't go your way is mind blowing. There alot of Papparazzis and signature sellers there- who do most of these disgusting things, but I mean it's as if the performers are animals- they flat out call them "bitches" and other much worse curse words for appologizing and getting into their car when they can't/ don't want to sign. they tug and pull they film and shout at them, they ask very personal questions.
Disgusting human behaviour towards those who society puts on a pedestal is not new- and it is just that- disgusting. But sadly it seems it's a part of gaining popularity. Theatre actors have more anonimity- especially those who are not on social media, so it must be a foreign thing to them that rarely happens (and from what I've seen and heard, stage dooring when there isn't a celebrity in the cast is a pleasent experience for the most part, for both parties)
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Sept 12, 2016 20:32:16 GMT
I often wonder if they're really fans if they can turn on their idol so quickly.
I've told the story before, I'm sure, but the one time I met someone I was a fan of, I froze and mispronounced my name so the person had to double check with me what I'd said. Since then I don't try to meet people and just thank the ones I've really liked on Twitter.
|
|
2,041 posts
|
Post by 49thand8th on Sept 12, 2016 20:37:11 GMT
If you go to a music concert you don't expect to meet the performer outside the venue so why has it suddenly become so different in the theatre? We seem to have a culture of entitlement now where people think their ticket includes a meet and greet and, no matter how marvelous the show they watch, the main point of their visit is getting that elusive selfie and autograph after (or even before) the show. I don't think it's sudden so much as we hear about the experience much more on social media (from both sides), which in turn feeds the wheel. But the stage door experience has gone on for decades. It just hasn't needed barricades until relatively recently.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 20:38:30 GMT
What actors are tweeting? Because from what I've seen it's literally only Carrie Fletcher CONSTANTLY going on about it and and causing sh*tstorms on Twitter Oh my God, I hate her so much.
|
|
4,156 posts
|
Post by kathryn on Sept 12, 2016 21:40:14 GMT
Social media has an amplifying effect. It used to be that if an actor signed autographs at stage door, or at the end of a day's filming, only a very few dedicated fans would ever know about it. Nowadays people plaster the information all over social media - in real time - and suddenly everyone knows about it, so you get large numbers turning up expressly for the purpose of getting a selfie.
That's why you need barriers and suchlike. And it does mean there are some people who have travelled long distances and are very emotionally invested in the idea of meeting their favourite. People do end up with a sense of entitlement, and can become bitter and nasty if they don't get what they want. I've seen some quite incredible sob stories trotted out that boil down to 'I spent a lot of time and money I couldn't afford to meet so-and-so/to make so-and-so this present, she/he didn't meet me/accept my gift/acknowledge my effort, they ruined my health/finances/life and are a terrible person'.
And no, obviously this woman you all keep harping on about doesn't get it as badly as some bigger stars. And yes, it comes off ungrateful and egotistical to complain - which is why anyone with a higher profile does not do it! The fact that other performers are retweeting her is quite a big hint that they agree, though, even if they'd never be silly enough to complain directly themselves.
|
|
4,361 posts
|
Post by shady23 on Sept 12, 2016 21:55:16 GMT
It's not just Carrie, there's been lots of times recently when people have said that couldn't come out between or after shows for whatever reason (not that they should have to explain) and have then been bombarded by tweets from people outside who make out that this decision has caused them some kind of mental breakdown, destroyed their life etc etc.
Although where Carrie goes wrong, in my opinion, is that she keeps fueling the fire about the stage door by keeping responding to negativity rather than ignoring it , then complains when people come back to her about it. Her tweets can sometimes come across as being very rude, no matter how many xxxxs she puts after them.
|
|
1,088 posts
|
Post by andrew on Sept 12, 2016 21:59:48 GMT
I've told the story before, I'm sure, but the one time I met someone I was a fan of, I froze and mispronounced my name so the person had to double check with me what I'd said. Since then I don't try to meet people and just thank the ones I've really liked on Twitter. I don't even know why, but Ruthie Henhsall - I just completely lost it. I didn't make any sense, my voice wasn't working. I said something really stupid. I've met people I liked much more, but Ruthie Henshall just did me in. She was nice but I felt so embarrassed immediately after. Why Ruthie? What about her? I'll never know. I'll never try it again, oh no, not with Ruthie. Lin Manuel Miranda seems like he has it pretty rough generally at stage doors, if youtube videos are to be believed. He is amazing though, I'd probably throw myself at him too.
|
|
4,156 posts
|
Post by kathryn on Sept 12, 2016 22:00:33 GMT
Someone needs to tell Carrie: 'Never explain, never apologise'.
|
|
2,041 posts
|
Post by 49thand8th on Sept 13, 2016 3:25:11 GMT
Right. The stage door can be fun. But it is a bonus. It's not like staying in a theater to watch the funny post-credits scene of a movie. The stage door is something you do if you want, and you may see the person you want, and they may want to sign or take photos with you, but it's no one's fault if they don't.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 5:50:38 GMT
There does seem to have been a massive rise in the "more deserving than you" fans recently: the sort who have seen the show many times and think this entitles them to exclusive access to the cast and the right to shove non-fans out of the way. I don't remember seeing or hearing about that until about ten years ago. It used to be that the regulars would stand back and let the one-timers go first because the regulars could always come back another time. There was none of the selfishness there is today.
|
|
240 posts
|
Post by Anniek on Sept 13, 2016 7:24:49 GMT
I really don't get it. It's not like SD'ing is hard. If you're at SD, you wait politely, and ask for a photo or autograph in a nice way, there's not a lot of actors who would refuse. Obviously maybe they're less chatty one day, or in a rush, but most of the time they love to hear what you thought of the show. However a lot of people can't seem to behave like this. They're screaming, pushing, being too straight forward to actors etc. SD'ing etc might be part of the job as well, but actors have to draw a line at some point right? And yes, It might seem that Carrie is pointing it out too many times, although she might created this hype herself, but I think she's has the right to do so. You're paying for a show, not for a meet and greet. If people on social media are complaining and making nasty comments about her (non) appearance at SD, I think she has all right to defend herself. It's too damn easy to make nasty comments on social media and a lot of people seem to forget that these actors are normal people with feelings as well.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 8:00:07 GMT
Carrie Hope Fletcher needs to stage door at a show featuring John Barrowman to put her experiences into context. Those ladies are on fire! They would rip out your throat with their bare hands and tie it round your waist like a belt if they thought you were closer to La Barrowman than they were.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 9:54:39 GMT
I think social media has amplified things, and when people like Carrie (youtube fans) or fans from 'elsewhere' (musicians, TV/film actors) etc etc collide with theatre it's obviously 'upping' the numbers at SD and bringing people who don't neccessarily come to the theatre as much (not always)
I remember back in the day (2004) when Hugh Jackman was on Broadway with The Boy From Oz that SD was insane but we didn't have the huge social media platform for even more people to know about it/talk about it, so it was kept to fan forums/groups etc (yes, yes, I was there)
I think there is an issue with people not knowing/respecting boundries or whatever, and being given a platform (twitter usually) to also further cross boundries.
That said in relation to Carrie, yes she wants to see a Barrowman or even Alfie Boe crowd in action...then she'll know what a scary SD looks like!!
|
|
1,102 posts
|
Post by zak97 on Sept 13, 2016 10:00:43 GMT
Something I've been hearing of and seeing more of is people going to the stagedoor when they've not even been to see the actual show. I saw this in a video on youtube from the Harry Potter stagedoor and Noma did brush it off with a joke, but I think you could tell that she thought it was a bit strange I suppose, and that for some very commercial shows people go to the stagedoor to get the photo so that they can be seen being seen with the most popular actors of the present.
|
|
19,787 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 13, 2016 11:32:17 GMT
CHF puts herself out there across all of the social media platforms. She can very easily see the level of obsession some of her fans have from their on-line responses. Some of these fangirls, and boys, are not rational.
If she includes references to meeting people at the stage door then I'm afraid she is asking for the attention, positive and negative.
All she has to do is knock it on the head, even just for a few months. Stop raising people's expectations, tell people you're having a break so please don't travel or bring gifts to the stage door. Let it all just calm down.
But she won't, because she's attention-hungry and she is feeding her social media presence as its vital to selling her various products. So to constantly gripe about it is disingenuous to say the least.
|
|
433 posts
|
Post by DuchessConstance on Sept 13, 2016 11:43:50 GMT
Fisher is being a bit of an attention seeker.
But stage door fans can be terrifying. One David Tennant fan came to the stage door every single performance of Richard II (and goosed him, once). There were Whovians hanging around the Court even during rehearsals for Matt Smith's play, before they'd even arrived!
|
|
2,041 posts
|
Post by 49thand8th on Sept 13, 2016 12:41:48 GMT
Something I've been hearing of and seeing more of is people going to the stagedoor when they've not even been to see the actual show. I saw this in a video on youtube from the Harry Potter stagedoor and Noma did brush it off with a joke, but I think you could tell that she thought it was a bit strange I suppose, and that for some very commercial shows people go to the stagedoor to get the photo so that they can be seen being seen with the most popular actors of the present. This happens at Hamilton in DROVES. I kind of get it, but it got rather grotesque after a while.
|
|
4,156 posts
|
Post by kathryn on Sept 13, 2016 12:50:49 GMT
Something I've been hearing of and seeing more of is people going to the stagedoor when they've not even been to see the actual show. I saw this in a video on youtube from the Harry Potter stagedoor and Noma did brush it off with a joke, but I think you could tell that she thought it was a bit strange I suppose, and that for some very commercial shows people go to the stagedoor to get the photo so that they can be seen being seen with the most popular actors of the present. I remember at Coriolanus they instituted a rule of no ticket, no autograph. So you'd find fans waiting outside the theatre when the audience let out asking people if they could please have their used ticket. I believe that Hiddleston finally gave up on stage dooring when he realised that people were giving the Donmar staff grief. He's always had a reputation of being very accommodating, which had raised expectations considerably. Sadly, if you're a celeb you are better off being ruthlessly arbitrary and inconsistent about stage dooring/giving autographs, so that people appreciate that if they get a autograph/selfie they are very lucky, and don't expect it as a given.
|
|
240 posts
|
Post by Anniek on Sept 13, 2016 13:05:18 GMT
^ It was the same at Gypsy I believe where Imelda Staunton would only sign tickets. Well that was said by leaflets hanging next to SD.
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Sept 13, 2016 13:14:25 GMT
Fisher is being a bit of an attention seeker. But stage door fans can be terrifying. One David Tennant fan came to the stage door every single performance of Richard II (and goosed him, once). There were Whovians hanging around the Court even during rehearsals for Matt Smith's play, before they'd even arrived! What's goosing?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 13:37:38 GMT
Grabbing someone, usually the bum.
|
|
8,159 posts
|
Post by alece10 on Sept 13, 2016 14:05:42 GMT
There was a funny play on TV a couple of years ago about a group of people who waited at stage doors. One of then used to give notes to the actors on their performances and one was a stalker. I forget what it was called but it was very funny and slightly alarming.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 15:06:32 GMT
Goosing, d'James, involves making your hand like a goose's beak (think thumb and forefinger) and "pecking" someone's bum. According to research online, you often have to go up between the cheeks...! It isn't to grab anything, just poking, and always the bum. Not that I'm an expert...
|
|